The Difference Between Obesity Care and Weight Loss Commerce:

Information for Patients and Payors

In today's health-conscious society, the topics of obesity care and weight loss are frequently discussed, often intermingled, yet they are fundamentally different. Obesity care is a nuanced, integrated, comprehensive, evidence-based, and personalized approach to weight health, contrasting sharply with weight-loss commerce focusing solely on the commercial transaction of a single health outcome. The distinction is more than a matter of different methods; it represents fundamentally different philosophies in addressing the health and well-being of people living with obesity. This blog aims to elucidate these differences, underscoring why comprehensive obesity care is vital for effective, long-term weight health.

The Essence of Obesity Care

Obesity care offers an individualized treatment journey characterized by the following:

• Comprehensive and Personalized Treatment Plans: Recognizing obesity as a complex health issue, treatments in obesity care are as diverse as the individuals themselves, including FDA-approved medications, surgical interventions, or lifestyle support, often in a combined approach tailored to each person’s unique health needs, preferences, and goals. For example, up to 60% of individuals taking Tirzepatide (Brands: Mounjaro, Zepbound) will lose 20% or more of their original body weight, which means up to 40% of people may need to consider other treatment options (e.g., surgery). To clarify, despite it being commonly advertised, there is no GLP1-for-all solution.
• Expert Medical Providers: Choosing a care provider with deep expertise in obesity management is essential. Research suggests that the American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM)-certified physicians provide care consistent with evidence-based guidelines. These specialists are well-versed in the latest research and guidelines, ensuring that patients receive the right treatment at the right time, managing to the level of the patient.
• Educating and Engaging Patients: Effective obesity management requires ongoing patient education about the importance of recognizing obesity’s health impact, understanding treatment options, seeking professional help, and remaining on effective treatment. Obesity is more than just a number. Obesity is a complex, chronic, heterogeneous, and relapsing neuroendocrine disorder that impacts the biopsychosocial function of an individual, and as such, treatment needs to address the whole person, not just their weight.
• Embracing Virtual Care: Telehealth provides unparalleled access to medical treatments. Virtual care can reduce no-show rates and improve treatment access, offering the flexibility needed for consultations and follow-ups, focusing on understanding the patient's medical history, lifestyle, and treatment response.
• Comprehensive Support: Obesity care offers ongoing support, including care navigation, benefits coordination, referrals, etc., ensuring patients receive the appropriate resources and timely support.
• Collaboration with Other Healthcare Providers: Obesity care emphasizes creating a collaborative work environment integrating healthcare professionals from various fields to provide comprehensive and holistic care.

Diagram of obesity care professional network

Contrasting Commercial Weight Loss Programs

In stark contrast, weight loss commerce falls short in these areas:

• One-Size-Fits-All Solutions: Unlike individualized care in obesity management, commercial programs often provide standardized plans that may not adequately address unique medical or personal challenges. Do not be fooled; GLP1 teleservices are the newest iteration of the Weight Loss Industry. These pill mills (prescription-as-a-service) charge a monthly fee for access to prescription drugs with little to no medical supervision or counseling. To be clear, this is not a form of obesity care. In fact, problems abound with these offerings. What happens if a medication needs to be changed based on lost weight? Are the providers accessible? What if a patient loses medication coverage; will the service offer anything other than GLP1 medication? For eating disorders [try another GLP1]? Referrals? Nutritional counseling? You get the picture.
• Lack of Expert Medical Oversight: The lack of expert medical supervision in commercial weight loss programs can lead to ineffective treatments, poor return on investment, and potentially harmful outcomes, in contrast to the careful and professional guidance provided by obesity-trained physicians in obesity care. It should be no surprise that commercial weight loss offerings often promote non-FDA-approved, experimental compounds. Additionally, patients do not receive the necessary expert support, and as a result, there is an increase in adverse events and medication discontinuation rates. TAKEAWAY: Good outcomes do not happen by chance.
• Inequitable Access: Many commercial weight loss solutions do not provide equitable access, widening disparities in who can receive help.
• Low Touch: Commercial weight loss programs frequently lack the personalized interaction and ongoing support found in comprehensive obesity care. [Simple exercise: ask any patient of any commercial weight loss program whether they know their provider. Have they ever even physically seen them? (Not joking!)] Obesity is a long-term medical condition that requires varying levels of support throughout a person's life. Establishing a strong therapeutic relationship between the patient and provider is crucial for open communication and tailored treatment plans to address individual patient needs.
• Siloed Treatment: Weight loss commerce operates separately from traditional healthcare, often without data-sharing, specialty referrals, or care collaboration with other stakeholders. [Critical insight: obesity does not exist in a health vacuum!!]

Conclusion

Managing obesity requires a shift towards a comprehensive and personalized approach that is medically informed and evidence-based. The generic solutions offered by commercial weight loss are no longer sufficient. The journey towards effective obesity management calls for an expert, physician-led, compassionate, stigma-free, and holistic approach to weight health. It's about seeing beyond mere weight loss numbers and focusing on the overall health and well-being of each person.

In a world where health challenges are often met with one-size-fits-all solutions, the need for personalized, evidence-based obesity care is more important than ever. This approach not only ensures safe and effective treatment of obesity but also respects the unique health journey of each individual, setting a new standard for weight health.

Disclosures:

• Cofounder and CMO of Accomplish Health: a comprehensive virtual obesity medicine platform for patients, providers, and payors.
• Consultancy: Elo Health, Gelesis, and Novo Nordisk.